Apparatus for indicating angularity of crooked well holes



- Jul 26, 1982. w, HE T E 1,868,833

APPARATUS FOR INDICATING ANGULARITY 'OF cnooxma WELL HOLES Filed July 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNv Er lTOR Wynas m Hes'far ATTORNEY Jul 26, 1932.

APPARATUS w. w. HESTER 1,868,833

FOR INDICATING ANGULAfiljTY OF CROOKED WELL HOLES Filed July 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W Z765 W- 265 fer BY 'ATT-ORNEY 6 y described.

Patented July 26, 1932 3 UNITED STATES RATEN'I: OFFICE WYNES w. nns'rnn, or TULSA, oxmnoiaa, ASSIGNOR 'ro DRIFTMETEB, mconrom'rnn,

or TULSA, oxnmoma, A oonronamon or oxmnoma- APPARATUS FOR INDICATING ANGULARITY F CROOKED WELL HOLES Application filed July 26,

7 My invention relates to apparatus for in? dicating angularity of crooked well holes and has for its principal object to provide an instrument whereby such indications may be taken at will throughout the depth of a well. In accomplishing such object of the 1nvention Ihave provided improved details of showing a diagram of the electric circuit with the contact pendulum and resistance contacts in relative position forproducing'a true vertical indicatlon.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the contact bearings at the upper end of. the resistance instrument.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 44 Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective .view of the contact pendulum with parts broken away for better illustration.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a well hole herein shown as having an inclined portion 2- and equipped with the usual casing 3 and tubing 4 supported from the casing head 5, thehead being 0 en for receiving a cable 6 for lowering into t e tubing by a Windlass 7. s

The -w1ndlass drum 8.is provided at one end with a commutator type connector 9, con-' necting the branches 10and 11, (Fig. 2), of the cable 6 with like branches (not shown) of the cable 12'leading to an ammeter 13 calibrated for indicating degrees of deflection.

.The ammeter 13 is mounted in a container 14 inclosing storage batteries 15 and 16 and fitted with an adjustable resistance member 17 and control switches 18 and 19. Connected in circuit with the ammeter through the cables 6 and 12 is a resistance instrument 20 attached to the free end of the cable '6 for lowering into the well and embodying the rincipal features of the invention as presentthe bearing sleeve is a contact free rotation in the housing.

1929. Serial No. 981,364.

The resistance instrument 20 includes a c lindrical housing member 21 adapted to s ide freely through the well tubing and hav ing internal] threaded ends 22 and 23 fitted with remova le bullet-shaped heads24 and 25 for guiding the housing during its descent into andwithdrawal from the well;

Spaced from the head 24 by spacer collar 26 is a bearingplate 27 cooperating with a! bearing late 28 in-the o posite end of the housing or pivotally moiinting a frame- 29 containing the operating parts of the appa' ratus.-

Extending centrally through the head 24 is an opening 30 having a tapered portion 31 at its lower end filled with solder 32- orthe like forsecuring the end of the cable 6 in the opening. Q

Mounted on the bea' rin plate 27 are insulated binding posts 331 an 34 connected with the branches 10 and 11 of the cable 6; and located between the bindin posts is an insul'ator bushing 35 fitted wlth a contact bearing sleeve 36 connected with thebinding post v 34 by a branch 37, and provided with a tapered' end 38. Fixed in and insulated from in 39 con-' nected with the binding post 33 y a branch 40, with its lower end projecting from the I tapered end 38 of the bearing sleeve 36,'the

sleeve ar d contact pin being adapted for cooperation with parts of the support frame 29 presently described.

1 The support frame 29 includes vertical side members 41 and 42 connected at opposite ends by head plates 43 and 44, and having arcuate surfaces 45 spaced from the walls of the housing to permit rotation of the frame.

Secured in the lower head plate 44 is a pivotscrew 46 engaging a .pivot stud 47 in; the bearin plate 28, and mounted in the upper head plate is an insulator bushing 48 fitted with a sleeve 49 receivingthe con tact pin 39 for freerotation therein, and

peredend 38 of the bearing sleeve 36, thus supporting the frame on point bearings for Mounted in the 11 per end of the support frame 29 is a pane 51 having anarcuate having a recessed end engaging the ta 9o 3 lower edge 52 fitted with a commutator or contact sector 53 comprising a plurality of contacts 54 insulated from each other and member 41 are weights 59 and 60 for weight-.

ing the member and causing the frame to automaticall swing on its pivots so that the weighted si e will assume the'lower 'posi-' tion when the device is inclined.

Leading from various points on the resistance coilare branches 61 connected with respective contacts 5401!? the commutator and effecting a aduated resistance throughout I the arcuate .ength of the commutator 53.

r The pendulum switch arm includes an electro-magnet 62 pivotally supported at one side of the frame 29 opposite the weighted I 7 side member 41, and from paired cross bars 63 (Fig. 4) 'by means of pivot screws 64 having an axis common to the axis of the commutator .53. i

Depending from the lower end of the elec-. tro-magn maintaining the electro-magnet in a substantially vertical position regardless of inclination of the body of the device, and supported on the upper end of the magnet is a bracket 66 extending angularly upward in radial alignment with the commutator 53 and having spaced and apertured' cars 67 and 68, forjthe mounting of a contact member 69.

The'contact member 69 includesan insulator sleeve 70 slidably engaged in theears 67 and 68, and fitted at its upperend with a contact rod 71 movable with the sleeve for switch 18 is then 0 ened, deenergizing the me at and permitting the rod 71 to be exten ed by its spring to contact with the comengaging the contacts 54 o'fthe commutator 53. The rod isv connected through a branch 7 2 with a branch 73 having one end grounded to the support frame through the electromagnet 62 and pivot screws 64, and its oppo- P site end connected with the branch 11 of the cable 6 through the bearing sleeves 36 and 49. v

Mounted on the sleeve 70 in spaced rela= tion with theear 67 is a collar 74, and interposed between the ear and collar is a coil spring 75 normally and yieldingly urging the contact. rod into engagement with the commutator contacts 54. a

Attached to the lower end of the insulator sleeve 0 is a metallic head 76 cooperative with a head 77 on-the electro-magnet to shift pivotal movement of the pendulum switch et 62 is a weight adapted for;

m sses arm relative to the commutator when the magnet is energized.

In the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 2, the primary elements of the electric circuits are represented diagrammatically in relation to the principal mechanical elements heretofore described, the storage battery 15' being grounded as shown at 78 and connected through switch 18, with line 11. the electrof-magnet 62.

Leading from the positive pole of the batte 16 leading to is the line 10' connected withone en .of the resistance coil 58 and including In using the apparatus the switches are opened and the resistance instrument is lowered into the well. As the instrument descends it assumes the same inclinations as t e well hole through which it passes, the pivoted' inner frame turning on its point bearings under influence of its weights and the magnet assuming the same inclinations as its carrying body due to frictional contact ofthe rod 71 with the commutator 53.- Y

When an indication is to be taken the instrument is stopped and the switch 18 closed, energizing themagnet to free the rod from the commutator, so that if the plunger is in an inclined portion of the well the magnet swings to perpendicular position, carrying the rod 71 along, but out of contact with the commutator to an extent determined by anmutator. The switch 19 is then closed to coil 58 and its branch 61 correspondin to the commutator member 54 with which t e rod ermit flow of current through the resistance 71 is in contact and through the ammeter,

whereu on the ammeter is actuated according to t e amount of current passing the re which the instrument is located, de th of the well at that point bein shown y the commutator on the win'dlassg.

Thus indications maybe taken at various depths by stopping the instrument during ing the switches to control flow of current through the magnet and coil lines, the adjustable resistance member 17 in the am? its up or "down travel and opening and close sistan'ce unit in the circuit; a series of branch wires leading respectively from different.

meter circuit being regulated to com ensate for the varying depths of different we Is.

I claim 1. In apparatus of the character described, a cylindrical housing, a resistance unit in. the

housing including a pivotally supported frame, a variable resistance coil on said frame, an arcuate commutator comprising a series of contacts connected with said coil, a pendulum pivotally supported on said frame on a common center with said are of the commutator and including a contact rod normally and yieldin ly urged to selective engagement with sai commutator contacts, an ammeter in circuit with said coil and contacts for indicating flow of electric current therethrough, a secondary circuit including an electro-magnet on said pendulum for controlling engagement of said contact rod with said commutator contacts, and independently operable switches controlling said primary and secondary circuits.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a cylindrical housing, a resistance unit in the housing including a pivotally sup orted frame,-a pendulum pivotally supporte adjacent one side of the frame, a variable resistance coil on the frame, a commutator-formed on an arc with said pendulum pivot and comprising a series of contacts connected with said coil, a contact rod on the pendulum normally engaging the commutator, an ammeter in circuit with said coil and contacts for indicating fiow of electric current therethrough, a secondary circuit including an electro-magnet on said pendulum for retracting the contact rod out. of engagement with the commutator contacts, and independently operable switches controlling-sai primary and secondary circuits.

3. Apparatus of the character described including a housing, means for suspending the housing to permit the housing to assume an angularit' conforming to that of the portion of awell ole within which itis contained, a series of contacts within the housing, a memwei ted to automatically assume vertical including the contacts and contact rod,-a reparts of said unit to the contacts 'to-efiect a variable flow of current through the circuit upon-movement of the contact rod, an indicator in said circuit res current flowing in the circuit, a magnet on said weighted member controlling-contact of the contact arm with the commutator, a secondary circuit including the magnet and control switchesin the respective circuits.

4. In .a device of the character described comprising a frame, [plurality of contacts on said frame in the form of an arc, and a ber pivotally mounted in said housing-and-,

naive 1 to variable gravity actuated contacting member comprising a weight ivotally mounted at its upper end to said rame on a common center withsaid arc, a contactrod mounted on said weight, resilient means urging said rod into engagement with said contacts, an electromagnet on said weight adjacent one end of said rod, and means on said rod to-cause it to move out of engagement with said contacts upon ener 'zation of said magnet;

-5. In a evice to-indicate the inclination of a well bore, a commutator, a contacting mem-' ber for cooperating with said commutator including a contact rod, resilient means urging said rod into engagement with said commutator, an elcctro-magnet on said contacting member,'an.d means omsaid rod to move the rod out of engagementwith said commutator when said magnet is energized.

6. In adevice to indicate the inclination of a wellbore, a casing, an velectricalresist'ance coil in said casing, a commutator having a a well here, arcasing, an electrical resistance;

coil in said casing, a; commutator having a plurality of contacts connected with saidcoil,

a contact rod completing'the circuit through said -coil,-'resilient means constantly urging said rod into. engagementwith said'contacts and electro-magnetic means to move said rod out of engagement with said contacts.

8. In a. device to indicate the inclination of a well bore, "a casing, an electrical resistance-coil in said casin having a plurality of 7 contacts, a contact ro completing the circuit through said coil, resilient means urging said rod into engagement with said contacts, an ele'ctro-magnetic means to move said rod out of engagement with said contacts, and means to operate said last named means at a point remote therefrom.

9. In apparatus of the character described, a housing, a unit pivotallymounted in the housing including a fixed member and a pendulum,a contact member, means forr'eciprm cabl mounting saidcontact member on the pen ulum to permit en agement of said contact member with the xed member, electromagnetic means for moving the contact member in bne direction, and leldi-ng means for moving. said contact mem r'in the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I ai'fix xfiy si ature. ESER. 

